Alan Shearer and Jamie Carragher can both understand why Trent Alexander-Arnold might fancy a move to Real Madrid in the summer — but the pair have also offered alternative views on the Liverpool vice-captain’s thinking.
While Carragher has outlined the case for remaining at Anfield and further bolstering Alexander-Arnold’s medal collection, cementing himself as a legend at the club he supports, Shearer can see why a Bernabeu switch could be tempting. As well as teaming up with Jude Bellingham on a regular basis, he would be joining arguably the biggest club in the world.
“Looking at what is in store for him at Real Madrid, I think he’ll do really well,” Shearer told Betfair. “He’s a fabulous player with his crossing and passing range.
“I’ve always said, to be a center-forward in a team he’s playing in when you’re making those runs and wanting those crosses into the box, there’s no one better at doing that. Trent is a quality player. He’ll be a huge success at Real Madrid and will help the club win big trophies as he has done for Liverpool.
“Trent is leaving a huge powerhouse of a football club and joining another one in Real Madrid. For him to try something different in a new country after all he’s done for Liverpool, I just think that should be respected.”
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The flip side, though, is that his legacy at Liverpool will be tainted — whether that is fair or not. And unlike when Steven Gerrard was tempted to leave (and ultimately decided to stay), it is not as if the Reds are unable to compete regularly for the biggest prizes.
“Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year,” Carragher said on the Stick To Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. “So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it.
“I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies. I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.
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“We always talk about rivalries and never think of it as European. In some ways, Real Madrid is a rival. No one will catch them — they are the biggest and most famous team — but I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list.
“AC Milan are on seven [European titles]. If I was him, I’d be thinking that we’ve got a great opportunity to win the league this year and could do this and that and at the end of his time, put Liverpool in a position [to beat the others].”
Liverpool.com says: You can look at the situation both ways and in that sense, Alexander-Arnold doesn’t have a bad option on the table. If he does move to Spain, though, he will have to leave with the reality that his Liverpool career will be looked at differently, even if that isn’t really fair.
